Automatic carving-machine.



No. 696,382. Patented Mar. 25, I902.

F. STHEICH & C. L. RUEHS.

AUTOMATIC CARVING MACHINE.

(Application filed Nov. 20, 1901.) (No Model.) I0 SheetsSheef I.

Qmmnmu If II T AJINNHMINHIHW Wlill No. 696,332. Patented Mar. 25, 39021.

F. STREICH 81. B. L. BUEHS.

AUTOMATIC CARVING MACHINE.

Patented Mar. 25, I902.

F. STREIBH &. C. L. RUEHS.

AUTOMATIC CARVING MACHINE.

(Application filed Nov. 20 1901.)

I0 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

Hill! llll llllllllllllllllllllllllIIIIHIlilHH11llllllllllllllllllllllllllHlllIHllillllllllllllllIlllllllllfllIllllllIIHI f ll m Q w lillllllll II Ell 5 IIII I. IHIIIIIIII No. 696,382. Patented Mar. 25, I902.

F. STREICH C. L. RUEHS.

AUTOMATIC CABVING MACHINE.

(Application filed Nov. 20, 1901.) (No Model.) l0 Sheets-Sheet 4.

W ou'ea @0173; I MM Q I THL warns PEIERE cu. PHOTO-LITMQ, WASHINGYON, u.c,

No. 696,382. Patented Mar. 25, I902.

F. STREICH & C. L. RUEHS.

AUTOMATIC GARVING MACHINE.

(Application filed Nov. 20 1901 (Ho Mode!.) 4 l0 Shee tsSheet 6.

Ill mmuum m No. 696,382. Patented Mar. 25, 1902;

F. STREICH & c. L. RUEHS.

AUTOMATIC CARVING MACHINE.

(Application filed Nov. 20, 1901.) (No Model.) 10 Sheets-Shee11 7.

Patented Mar. 25, I902.

.F. STREIEH & C. L. RUEHS.

AUTOMATIC CARVING MACHINE.

(Application filed Nov. 20, 1901.)

(No Model.)

"cams PiTERS co., mom'umu. vusmns'ron o c Patented Mar. 25, I902. F.STBEICH an. L. RUEHS.

AUTOMATIC CARVI NG MACHINE.

(Application filed Nov. 20, 1901.)

I0 SheetsSheet 9.

(No Model.)

ma News PETERS co. PNOTO-LH'HO, WASHINGTON, n. c.

Patented Mar. 25, I902.

F. STREIOH &. C. L. BUEHS.

AUTOMATIC CARVING MACHINE.

(Application filed Nov. 20, 1901.)

I0 Sheets$heet ID.

(No Modeh) Farmer P FRANK STREICII AND CHARLES Ii. RUEI-IS, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS, ASSIGN- ORS TO THE FIRM OF S. KARPEN AND BROS, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC CARVlNG IVlACHlNE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 696,382, dated March25, 1902. Application filed November 20, 1901. Serial No. 82,971. (Nomodel.)

.To all whom it may concern.- and rough product, difficult and expensiveBe it known that we, FRANK STREIOH and to finish, has prevented thegeneral adoption CHARLES L. RUEHS, citizens of the United of thesemachines. We believe that these States, residing at Chicago, Cookcounty, Illidifficulties and objections are due principally 5 5 nois,have invented a certain new, useful, and to the fact that the operationof the retract- Improved Automatic Carving- Machine, of ing mechanismand the cutting-tools dependwhich the following is a specification. ingthereon has not been simultaneous with Our invention relates to machinesfor carvthe moment of side contact of the pattern ing or grinding wood,metal, stone, glass, or with the tracer. In other words, in order to 60[0 other material, having particular reference place the retractingmechanism in operation to'automatic machines for the purpose; andthrough the medium of the tracer it has been its object is to produce anumber of copies considered indispensable to permit orprovide of anygiven relief or intaglio design at one for the preliminarymovement ofthe tracer by operation with accuracy and rapidity and at the movingpattern. This condition,structur- 65 less cost than has been possibleheretofore. ally analyzed, develops a differential or lost The specialobject of our invention is to motion between the tracer and the tools,the provide a machine for automatically produclatter being delayed intheir movement away ing in wood or other material a plurality of fromthe moving work or carving, endangercopies of a single master design orpattern, ing the integrity of the design and the promi- 70 beingparticularly directed toward the imnences and delicate portions of thecarving. provement of automatic carving-machines of We have furtherobserved that the work or that class in which a tracer which rests uponcarving is jeopardized and breakages thereof a moving pattern controls aplurality of cutare frequent because of additional lost motionting-tools as to depth of cut and in a measure resulting from thecomplicated connections 75 causes the rise and fall thereof and in whichthat have been employed between. the tracer a power-actuated lifting orretracting mechand the cutting tool or tools, which lost moanism isemployed to help or lift the tracer tion is constantly increased bywear. 'Likeor feeler over steep inclines or prominences wise, we believethat the surface inequalities encountered in the pattern. Agently-unduof the carving have been principally due to the o latingdesign may be reproduced without the simultaneous employment of severaltracers assistance of a retracting mechanism; but the upon a pattern andseveral tools upon a sinlatter is a necessity in the cutting or carvinggle piece of work, it being practically imposof the high reliefs andsharp incisions found sible to secure equally-accurate work by all inmany pattern-carvings. In such a mathe tools, the result of therelativeinaccuracy 85 3 5 chine the pattern and work move at the samebeing longitudinal scores or lines in the work. rate of speed, and it isobvious that if there Again, the transverse scores or lines observed isany delay in lifting the tracer and the cutin the carvings heretoforeproduced have been ting-tools upon an incline or prominence the theresult of the step-by-step feeding of the onward movement of the patternand work work, secured by several longitudinal adj ust- 9o 40 willresult in breaking some part of the maments of pattern and work, duringwhich the chine or in chipping or breaking the points working level isfrequently changed. Other or prominences of the work or panels beingobjections are due to the awkward construccarved. These are the chiefdifficulties that tion and arrangement of the pattern and work have beenencountered in the machines hithcarrying parts or tables, the samehaving in- 5 5 erto devised; but in addition to these drawvariably beenseparate parts, between which backs the machines have beendisproportionthe tracing and cutting members have been ately heavy andbulky and made up of a inaccessibly located, and the latter, becausegreat number of parts difficult of access, of their position, havenecessarily been commaintenance, adjustment, or repair, as well pactlyarranged, thereby increasing the diffi- I00 as expensive to set up andoperate, all of culty of reaching them for purposes of lubri which, inview of the torn, chipped, scored, cation, adjustment, and repair.

In view of the foregoing the particular objects of our invention are toprovide a carving-machine that may be properly termed automatic, inwhich the work and pattern shall lie in a horizontal plane and movetogether, their relations being absolutely fixed, in which gravity shallbe relied upon for the return of the tracer and the cutting-tools to thepattern and work, in which the operation of the retracting or liftingmechanism shall be simultaneous with and in proportion to the pressureof the pattern against the tracerpoint, in which the cutters shall bepositively connected with the tracer to move simultaneously therewith,in which every part shall be conveniently accessible at all times, inwhich the stroke or reciprocation of the pattern and work shall be equalto the length of the pattern, in which but a single cuttingtool shall beemployed upon each piece of work, which will produce exact copies as toform and size, which will be of light weight, which will occupy acomparatively small space, and which shall be adapted for carvingdesigns upon flat, curved, and cylindrical surfaces.

Our invention consists generally in an automatic carving-machine of theconstruction and combination of parts hereinafter described, andparticularly pointed out in the claims.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and inwhich .Figure 1 is a side elevation of an automatic carving-machineembodying our invention.

Fig. 2 is a front view thereof, the forward portion of the machine beingshown in section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a rear elevationoffrhe carving-machine. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section on theline 4 4 of Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the machine inhorizontal section on the line 5 5 of Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4. Fig. dis adetail of the side of the machine in elevation, showingthelongitudinally-moving bed and the transverse feed-table thereon. Fig. 7is an enlarged plan view of the feed-table partly broken away. Fig. 8 isa side view thereof, theside of the feed-table and the bed being brokenaway onthe line S S of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional detailon the line 9 9" of Fig. 7. Fig. 10 is a-notherplan view of thefeed-table partly broken away, showing how the work is arranged betweencenters therein. Fig. 11 is anenlarged section on the line 11 11W ofFig. 10. Fig. 12 is a vertical transverse section substantially on theline 12 12 of Fig.10. Fig. 13is an enlarged vertical section on the line13 13 of Fig. 10. Fig. 14 is a detail plan View of the bar carried bythe cutting-tools and which prevents the chattering thereof. Fig. 15 isa cross-section on the l'ine'15 15 'of Fig. 14. Fig. 16 is an enlargedfront vie'wof the tracer and the tracer elevating or retractingmechanism, the frame being shown in section on the lines 16 16 of Figs.17 and 18. Fig. 17 is a vertical transverse view of the tracer-elevatingmechanism in section on the lines 17 17 of Figs 16 and 18. Fig. 18 isaplan view of the tracer-elevating mechanism substantially on the line18 18 of Fig. 16. Fig. 19 is a sectional detail of one of the frictionbuttons or pieces on the line 19- 19 of Fig. 18. Figs. 20 and 21 arerespectively front and side views of a modified form of the tracerelevating or retracting mechanism wherein a single disk is employed.Fig. 22 illustrates a further modification of the tracer-elevatingmechanism wherein the tracer is placed between two friction-disks. Fig.23 illustrates a modified positive connection between tracer and thecutters. Fig. 24 is an enlarged detail section on the line 24 24 of Fig.23.

Referring now to the drawings, our machine in its preferred form is madeup of ahorizontal reciprocating bed movable longitudinally upon asuitable frame and carrying a transversely-movable feed-table for thepattern and the several blocks or pieces of work,in combination with atool-head bridging said bed and table and containing the cuttingtools,the tracer, and the retracting mechanism, said tracer and tools beingpreferably rigidly connected, and suitable means being provided fordriving said bed, table, tools, and retracting mechanism. When themachine is set into operation, the pattern and the work are reciprocatedslowly and also intermittently fed transversely beneath the statracer,the actuating member of the retract-,

ing mechanism being in constant rotation. Our invention will be betterunderstood by separately considering the main parts of the machine.

Theframe.'-The carving-1n achines hereto fore constructed have been ofobjectionable size and weight, principally due to the nee-- essaryemployment therein of vertical feedtables or carriers for the patternand work. The machines have also been objectionable because of thearrangement of the working parts between the vertical feed-tables, wherethey cannot be reached conveniently; and one object of our invention isto improve the carving-machine as to weight and size and convenientaccess to its working parts. To this end we employ a low horizontalframe, on which the work and pattern are arranged in a horizontal plane,with all of the tools above them within easy reach, the toolsbeing heldin a very light frame or superstructure.

In the drawings, 1 is the main frame or bed of the machine. This issupported on legs 2, and its top is horizontal.

3 3 are lightv side frames erected on the frame 1, and 4 is theoverhanging frame,

bridge, or head for the tools. This ext-ends transversely of the frame1, some distance above the same, about midway of its length.

The frame 1 carries the traveling bed 5 and the corners of the mainframe 1, With-unob structed spaces between them. In these spaces wearrange the devices for controlling the longitudinal travel or strokeofthe bed 5 and the transverse feed movement of the table 6. upper andlower parts 4 and 4", connected by divisions 4 and provided with therise 4 at the middle, the top thereof serving asthe rest or stop for-thetracer and tool coupling or connecting bar 14. ,On the rear uppercorners of the side frames 3 we provide boxes or bearings 15 for thetool-spindle-driving shaft 16 and also provide bearingsor fastenin gs 17for the shaft 18 of the take-up or tension devices for the belts whichdrive the tool or cut:1

ter spindles.

The reciprocating bc(Z.-WVith a View Sim plifying the bearings oft-thework-carrying bed and to place the work and pattern-within sight andreach we employ a horizontal bed 5 of less length than the frame 1 andhaving Vs 5, whichslide freely in the longitudinal V grooves or ways 1'provided on thetop of the.

frame 1, at the sides thereof, the bed5 being nearly as wide as saidframe 1. The bed 5 is arectangular frame or casting audis provided witha longitudinal part or beam 19, upon the bottomof which is the rack 19.

20 is a worm or screw that engages with the rack 19 and whereby the bedis slowly moved or recipocated. The shaft of the worm 20 has bearings inthe crossparts 10 and 11 of the frame 1 and isdriven by its pinion 2land a.

gear-wheel 22. The shaft of the large gear has a bearing in the lowerpart of the frame 11 and on itsforward end carries the beveledgear-wheel 23. This being rotated in one direction causes the movementof the traveling bed toward the rear of the frame 1 and when reversedoperates the bed through its return stroke. For operating the gear 23and the bed we employ two beveled pinions 24 and 25, mounted,respectively,on the transverse shaft 26 and the sleeve-shaft27. Thisshaft has bearings in the frame-beams 7, 8, and 9. To the shaft 26 wefasten the pu1ley28 and to The head or bridge 4 of the frame has.

the sleeve-shaft 27 the pulley 29. Between the two pulleys 28 and 29.there is a loosepulley 30.

31 is ashifting belt extending from the broad pulley 32 on thepower-shaft 13, of which 33 is the driving-pulley. The pinions 24 and 25on opposite sides of the gear 23 rotate in the same direction and areemployed to operate the frame in opposite directions, the reversal beingobtained by shifting the belt 31 from one fixed pulley 28 29 to theother across the loose pulley 30. For this purpose We provide a shifter34, engaging the belt 31 and held in slide-bearings in the side of theframe land the part 9 thereof and operated from the bed 5. The operatingconnection comprises the bell-crank 35, pivoted in the frame 1,connected to the shifter or rod 34 and-by alink 36 to the arm 37 of therocking shaft 38, journaled in the frame 1. outer end ofthe rockingshaft 38 is an arm 39, provided with a pin40, which liesin the path ofthe dogs orblocks 41 42 on the side of the reciprocating bed 5. Theseblocks are adjustable onthe rod 43, provided on the side near the end ofthe forward stroke of the bed- 011 the of the bed 5, and by means ofthem the stroke andshifts thelbelt onto the pulley 29, thus setting thepinion 24 in action to run the bed back. Near the end of the backwardstroke the block 41 strikesthe arm 39 and shifts the belt-31 over thepulley 29 to reverse the bed. In addition to the pin 40 the shifting-arm39 is preferably provided with a. handle 44, by which the shifter may beoperated to throw the belt 31onto the loose pulley 30, and thus stop themovementofthe bed. If desired, the bed- 5 may have a rocking movement asit travels beneath the tools, in which case curved guides would beprovided for the bed. Such a curved bed is convenient for usein thecarving of curved articles or panels. The

lindrical pieces, the centers for holding the workmay be placed inthis-bed 5; but-this is an uncommon; condition, and we prefer to providea separate pattern and feed-table that is adapted fol-holding all kindsof work and feeding the same eithertransversely or revolubly.

zontal, is of less widththan the bed 5 and of substantially the samelength, and the bed 5 is provided with transverse V-guides 45 at itsends, whereon the table slides freely. The movement of the tabletransversely is employed to feed the pattern and work to thetools, andthis movement is secured by means of screw 46, theends of which areheldinthe side and beam 18 of the bedi5. The connection between the tableand the screw 46 is a threaded collar or sleeve-47, movable on the screwand attached to the table 6. Thescrew 46 is rotated by means of astar-wheel 48 upon itsouter end, adapted as the bed is reciprocated toengage with and be partially rotated by the stationary pins 49 and 50,held in the frame of the machine. These pins engage the top and bottomof the star-wheel 48 at opposite strokes of the bed, and the transversemovement is imparted to the table only at the ends of the stroke of thebed. The pins 49 and 50 are held in blocks 51 and 52, that areadjustably-fixed upon the rods 53, which extend between the legs-of theside frame 3 at the left-hand side of the machine. These pin-blocks areadjusted according to the position of the dogs 41 and 42 andare alsoadjusted to determine the extent of throw or rotation which they shallimpart to the star-wheel 48, or, in other words, determine the feedmovement of the table 6. When hard materials are being worked, the feedmovement is very slight, while in soft material the side out of thetools may range from one-sixteenth to one-fourth of an inch. Thissidemovement of thetable 6 is only employed when carving panels, asdistinguished from round or cylindrical objects. For the latter work thestar-wheel 48 is loosened on the screw-shaft, (after the table has beenmoved to a central position,) so that the reciprocation of the tablewill not cause its transverse movement, and thereafter the star-wheel 48is employed todrive or rotate the center chucks, which are providedin-the table. The detailed construction of the table is best shown inFig. 2 and Figs. 6 to 13. The table comprises a rectangular iron frameor grating having a number of work-holding middle'of the table, it wouldrepresent the pattern, which is usually made of metal,

I though'we propose in some cases to employ heavily-electroplatedplaster molds or casts. As shown, the plates 55 have grooved blocks56,-resting on the rods 54 of the table and se cured thereto byscrew-clamps 57, the upper ends of which are T-shaped to be adj ustablein the T-slots 58 of the plate 55. The pattern or panel, as the case maybe, is fastened by screw-clamps 59, adjustable in the slots 58. Thestroke of the bed is little in excess of the length of the pattern to becarved, and the screw clamps 59 are therefore never struck by the tools.

For carving cylindrical objects, at which time the table is at rest onthe bed, the plates 55 are removed and the'work and pattern securedbetween the chucks 60 and the tailpieces or centers 61. The tailpieces61 are pointed screws held in the bar 62, that is arranged within theframe of the table and is slidable upon the rods 54 thereof, set-screws63 being provided to fasten the bar 62, as shown in Fig. 10. The chucks60 are simple point-plates, (see Figs. 7 and 11,) the shafts 64 of whichhave bearings in the rear end of the table and carry worm-gears 65.Beneath the row of worm-gears we provide the shaft 06, carrying a row ofworms or screws 67, meshing with the worm-gear 65. is held in bearings68, provided on the rear end of the bed 5, and the worms 67 areconnected to the shaft 66 by a key-slot in the shaft and keys in theworms 67, whereby the worms are adapted both for rotation by theshaftand to slide freely thereon withoutturning the chuck whenever thetable is fed transversely across the bed by the means hithertodescribed. For keeping the worms in mesh with the gears 65-when theshaft66 is rotated we provide a thrust bearing or bearings 69 on the endof the feed-table.

. As before remarked, the star-wheel 48 is einployed'to drive the chucksor centers when the table is stationary on the bed, and this isaccomplished by connecting the star-wheel and the shaft 66. We preferthe sprocket connection, comprising the sprockets 70 and 71 and thespocket-belt 72, as shownin Figs. 6 to 8. 73 is a hand set-screw in thehub of the star-whee148 for fastening the star-wheel to the screw-shaft46 and which is released when center work is being done. It will be seenthat it is only necessary to tighten or loosen this set-screw to changethe machine from one kind of work to-the other. If it is desired tocarve spirals,the star-wheel may be continuously rotated exceptat themoments of reversal of the bed. Itis seldom though sometimes desirablethat the transverse and rotary feeds be used simultaneously. lVhile itis not particularlyobjectionabletorotate the chucks 60 during thecarving of panels, we prefer to loosen the set-screw 71' of the sprocket71 at such times, so that the shaft 66 will not be rotated. Afterthe'table has traveled the full distance across the bed it is reversedby simply giving the shaft 53 a half-turn, so as to present the pins 49and 50 in reversed positions with respect to the star-wheel 48. It isfor this purpose that the pins 49 and 50 are extended through theblocks, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5.

The cuttmg-tools.For carving wood we employ side-bitted tools or cuttersoccupying positions perpendicular to the table 6 androtated at .a highspeed. The spacing of the tools corresponds to the spacing of the chucksor centers in the table, with-the exception that there is nocutting-tool opposite the middle chuck of the table, this space beingreserved for the tracer. The cutting-tools 74 are held in tool-chucks75, provided on the This shaft that can be employed and the depth of thecut of the tool, or, in other words, the highestrelief carving'that maybe produced on the machine. It is not necessary to employ the pulleys asstops, however, as suitable stops may be provided in connection with thetracer-bar. The upper ends of the spindles have collars 79 and arejournaled in the lifting or coupling bar 14. The weight of this bar andof the spindles is partially compensated and cushioned by the springs80, arranged beneath the bar, or other suitable means. 81 is a lever, bymeans of which the bar and the tools depending therefrom may be raisedfrom the work at any time. The spindles upon opposite sides of themiddle of the machine are preferably driven in opposite directions inorder to equalize their force on the table during the work of carving,this being necessary to prevent the tendency of the table to twist underthe tools. bar, preferably of wood, having bushings 83 for the severalspindles. This bar rests upon the top of the tool-chucks and by tyingthe spindles together as to their centers prevents much of thechattering and springing of the spindles experienced before theapplication of this antichatter-bar.

The tween-The tracer proper is a bar 8t, having a hard tracer-point 85,that is adjustable in its lower end. Its upper end is fastened to andsupports the cross or coupling bar 14. It is guided betweenantifrictionrolls 86 near its lower end and by oppositelyplaced flangedantifriction-rolls 87 near its upperend. When thetracer-point is restingupon a prominence of the pattern, the bar 14 will be raised from theframe 4 and the tool-spindles will be elevated correspondingly. Theconnection between the tracer and the tools is thus made absolutelypositive and rigid, and whenever the tracer moves the tools move withit. The bar 84 is preferably rectangular in cross-section and cannotrotate. When the pattern to be reproduced is of a gently-undulatingcharacter free from abrupt angles or shoulders, the pattern itself maybe relied upon to wedge and move the tracer and tools upwardly upon itsinclines. The tracer will naturally follow the downward inclines of thepattern. The requirements for patterns of this characterare few,howeveiyas designs in low relief can be produced more cheaply by thewell-known process of pressing or crushing the wood fibers, and theprincipal work required of an automatic carving-machine is theproduction of high-relief carvings. It is therefore necessary to providepowerful means to assist the tracer over abrupt inclines or shoulders inpatterns of high relief or deep intaglio, and theprincipal object ofourinvention is to provide a tracer and cutter retracting mechanism thatwill be free from all of the objectionable features pointed out in theforegoing and which shall be free from lost motion. In short, the objectof our invention is to provide a carving-m achiue with aretractin gmechanism that is incapable of any other movement than strictlyperpendicular or vertical movement with relation to the feed-table andwhich at the same time shall be highly sensitive and powerful in orderto instantly free the tracer-point from a projecting shoulder of thepattern. The practice heretofore has been to employ a number offriction-pulleys adapted for peripheral engagement with the tracer-barand to move the bar laterally into con tact with the peripheries ofthese friction-pulleys, this being done by the moving pattern; but sucha device is objectionable, not only by reason of the fact that adistinct movement of the tracer is required to set the mechanism inoperation, but also because the rapidly-rotating friction-pulleysquickly wear scallops in the sides of the tracer-bar, which thus becomesmore and more difficult to retract, increasing the chances of breakage.

' The essence of our invention, so far as it concerns the retractingmechanism, lies in placing the rotary friction-pulleys in actual contactwith the tracer-bar to start with, the pulley or pulleys themselvespreventing any lateral movementof the tracer, and in depending uponpressure caused by the pattern to strengthen the engagement between therotary pulleys and the bar to such an extent that the weight orresistance of the bar and attached parts will be overcome and the same-will be forcibly retracted fromthe pattern i and work.

Ifconstructed in accordance with our invention, the efficiency of aretracting mechanism of the old form may be greatly increased by placingthe friction-pulleys in direct contact with the tracer-bar and. depending upon pressure aloneinstead of movement and pressure to producesuffieient friction .be-

i tween the parts to cause the retraction of the tracer when struck bythe pattern; yet on account of the scalloping of the bar We muchgagement with the sides (not the periphery) of said friction-disk andconstituting a more or less positive connection therewith, acc0rding tothe force that is exerted to press the barn pon the disk. While in thismanner the tracer-bar and the frictional retracting-disk are always keptin contact and are restrained justment being so close that there is nolost from lateral movement, the frictional engagement of the tracer-barwith the friction-disk is too weak to affect the tracer until lateralpressure is exerted on the tracer-point; but the strength of theengagement between the tracer and the upwardly-turning friction-diskobviously increases in exact proportion to the lateral pressure that isplaced upon the tracerpoint, and when this becomes strong enough toovercome the weight of the tracer, the bar 14, and the cutter-spindlessuch associated parts will be slowly or instantly raised at a speed inexact ratio to the pressure exerted upon the tracer-point at any givenmoment. It will be evident, further, that when great pressure is exertedupon the tracerpoint, as by a sharp shoulder in the pattern, suchpressure will temporarily make the frictional connection between the barand the disk quite as positive as a crank pin connection would be, andas the peripheral speed of the disk is quite high under suchcircumstances the retraction of the tracer will be instantaneous and alldanger to the tracer from the pattern will be avoided. After the tracerhas mounted the rise in the pattern, either by a sudden movement of thetracer with the disk or because of the operation of the disk plusthe-wedging action of the pattern, it is obvious that the tracer will berelieved from side pressure, whereupon the relation of mere contact asopposed to pressure between the tracer-bar and the disk will bereestablished and the force of gravity Will return and hold the tracerupon a descending part of the pattern, and the tools, which areconnected to the tracer by the rigid bar 14, will of course likewisedescend and cut into the panels upon the feed-table.

Referring now to the drawings, it is to be noted that our preferred formof retracting mechanism comprises two large friction-disks 88 and-89 andthe tracer-bar 84, the intermediate portion of which is bifurcated toadmit the peripheral portions of the two disks, and said bar beingprovided with four contact pieces or buttons 90, that press uponopposite sides of the disks, one being provided on each side of eachdisk. The friction-disks are narrow-faced and of quite large diameter.They are fixed upon their shafts 91 and 92, and these shafts are fixedin bearings 93 in the frame 4-and by these bearings are positively heldagainst longitudinal movement, which, if permitted, would amount tolateral movementat the tracer-point. The disks are slowly rotated inopposite directions and turn upwardly with relation to the tracer-bar,as indicated by the arrows, Fig. 16. They are driven byoppositely-pitched worms 93 upon the cross-shaft 94 and which mesh withthe Worm-gears 95, provided upon the forward ends of the disk shafts 91and 92. The shaft 94 has three bearings 96 on the bridge 4. The buttons90 in opposite sides of the tracer-bar are set against the sides of thedisks, the admotion between the disks and buttons. The tracerj-bar iscapable of very free vertical movement inits roller-bearings, frictionat all points except with the disk being substantially eliminated. Theresult is that when pressure is exerted upon the tracer-point in eitherlongitudinal direction of the pattern the buttons upon the side (frontor back) from which the pressure'is exerted will be forced stronglyagainst the sides of the disks,-

such as to clamp the tracer upon the disks firmly-enough to cause thebuttons to more firmly adhere thereto and rise with the upward-movingsides of the disks, thus positively lifting the tracer-bar independentlyof the pattern, though Without actually removing the tracer-point fromcontact with the pattern, and when a very abrupt shoulder is encounteredin the pattern the maximnm pressure of the pattern will be infrictionbetween the tracer-bar and the disks is also relieved and the tracerwill instantly drop, being checked only by the cushions or springs 80,provided beneath the cross or coupling bar or beam 14. .We always preferto place the tracer midway of the group of cutter-spindles, so that themachine may be balanced, and as the tracer-bar has no play in itsbearings the cross-beam 14 may be rigidly attached to the upper end ofthe tracer-bar.

The wear in the retracting mechanism is upon the end surfaces of thebuttons and upon the sides of the disks 88 and S9, and it is obviousthat these parts will wear smooth, their efficiency being increased bytheir smoothness of surface. The friction-buttons 90 of the tracer-barmay be of the same material as are the friction-disks S8 and 89; but weprefer to secure a higher coefficient of friction by using anothermaterial, preferably hard or semihard rubber, which gives a highcoefficient of friction upon a steel or iron surface. Any lost motionbetween the tracerbar and the disks is instantly observed from the Workthat is being done by the machine. Therefore the friction-buttons 90require occasional,thoughnotfrequent,attention. Furthermore, anymaterial such as rubber, fiber, or wood used for friction-buttonspossesses considerable elasticity and if used alone between thetracer-bar and the, disks without a rigid material would permit thetracer-bar to yield to a greater extentthan we deem expedient. For thesereasons we make the buttons proper, 90, of metal to contain the rubberor like material. As shown in Fig. 10, 90 isa tube the inner end ofwhichis in constant contact with the side of the disks 88 89. Thistubeis threadedin the tracer-bar 8-l,and therefore is adjustable towardand from the disks. The inside or recess 97 of the tube contains therubber 98, which is compactly forced into the tube and is independentlyadjustable.

against the disk by means of the screw-plug 90, provided in the outerend of the tube 90. In practice the button is adjusted by applying awrench to the end of the plug 90', both the metal and rubber parts beingsimultaneousl y and delicately adjustable thereby. In this way we areable to secure a. strong frictional engagement between the parts whennecessary and at the same time preserve the fine metallic bearingbetween the buttons and disks. The wear upon the thin edge around therecess 07 is not very rapid, and the buttons are cheap and easilyrenewable.

The (Zrz v mg of the cutters and the refraction:

disks-4n the carving-machines hitherto devised the faulty arrangement ofthe tracing and cutting tools between feed-tables has necessitated avery compact arrangement of the parts, and particularly thedriving-belts,

one for. each cutter-spindle, and from these narrow belts 103 extendaround the small pulleys or sheaves 78 of the spindles 74. The tops ofthe pulleys 102 are preferably opposite the middle position of thepulleys 78, between the upper and lower portions of the bridge 4. Thedirection of twist of the belts determines the direction of rotation ofthe spindles, and, as shown in Fig. 3, the. belts are twisted oppositelyupon the two sides of the tracer, so that thespindles in the two groupsof spindles run in opposite directions. To permit the rise and fall ofthe spindles and to take up the slack of thebelts, we provide each beltwith a tension device comprising a weighted lever 104, pivoted on thecross-.

shaft 18 and in its forward end provided with an idle pulley 105, overwhich the lower leg.

of the belt runs. In case the belt breaks, the operator standing infront of the machine is protected by the vertical divisions 4 in thebridge, which prevent the belt from throwing forward. Theretraction-disks aredriven by the tracer and cutting-tools. beautomatically reversed at the end ofeach stroke by the action of thedogs 41 and/l2 and the shifting mechanism.

a belt extending from a pulley 106 on the shaftli) to the pulley 107 onthe shafttlat, the specdbeing much lower than that communicated to thespindles.

The operation of our machine is, in brief,

feed-table in the machine, the, plates 55 described, or the chuckcenters being emlVhilethebedis stationary the pattern and the pieces ofwork are secured upon the.

ployed, according tothe character of the pattern and work. .After thepattern and the blocks of material are secured the shifter 39 i-isthrown .to move .belt Stupon one of the fixed pulleysand thereafter thebed will reciprocate slowly upon the frame and beneath The bed will Inthe mean.- time the table,.which .has been set to one side, will beginto feed transversely across the bed, so that atthe end of each stroke ofthe bed the. table will be given a slight feed movement beneath thetracer and thecutting-tools. In this wayihe work ishfed toward the sidesof the cutting-tools, which work at a depth varyingwith the clevationofthe tracer by the pattern. As the bed reciprocatesit is obvious/that thepattern will move beneath the tracer and will cause its rise and falleither directly orthrough the operation of the forcibletracer-retractingmechanism. Wheneveraprominent projection in the pattern encounters thetracer-point the IIO tern and work and by vertical movement and controlof the cutting-tools the exact. pattern blocks upon the table during onecomplete transverse movement of the table. In case it is desiredtoinspect the workat anytime -or design is produced upon the panels or thebed may be. stopped by throwingithe shifter 39, or the bed may continueto move and the tools maybe lifted. by means of the lever 81. When thework has been completed,

it will be removed from the table and new parts in detail will beunderstood from the foregoing detailed description.

There are various possible modificationsof our invention, some of whichare shown in Y the drawings. .Thus in Figs. 20 and 21 we haveillustrated a. retracting mechanism in V which but one rotating. disk 88is employed.

for elevating the'tracer-bar; but we prefer the construction shown inthe main figures of the drawings, as the two oppositely-rotatingfriction-disks serve to balance the forces upon the tracer-bar.

Instead of placing a single friction-disk between the parts of thetracer-bar the tracerbar may be made as shown in Fig. 22, disks SS 88being arranged upon opposite sides of the tracer-bar to be engaged bythe buttons arranged between the disks and simultaneously adjustable inthe tracer-bar by means of the right and left adjusting-screw 110.

Further, our invention may be modified to the extent of employingupwardly-traveling belts to take the place of the friction-surfacespresented by the sides of the rotary disks. In this case we shouldprefer to make the belts of leather and have them travel over plainmetal surfaces, the contact-buttons of the tracer-bar being preferablyof a different material in order to secure as high a coefficientoffriction as possible and at the same time secure durability for theparts. In place ofleather belts metal belts may be used. Further, ourinvention may be modified to the extent of dispensing entirely with thefrictionretracting mechanism and adapting the point of the tracer torapid auxiliary vibration in either lateral or vertical directions,witha view to diminishing the friction between the tracerpoint and thepattern, so that the tracer-point will climb up the elevations of thepattern. Again, the tracer and cutting-tools may be subjected to "aconstant elevating force, and this, may be opposed by magneticattraction between the tracer-point and the pattern, which attractionwill vary according to the area of contact between the pattern and thetracer-point. It is obvious also that the tracerbar may be actuated byfluid-pressure and by the direct application of retracting-magnets. Inany of these cases the other portions of the machine would remain asshown in the drawings.

Anysuitable means may be employed for communicating a Vertical movementof the tracer to the tool-spindles so long as the I meansareof apositive character, and the the cams or wedges 121 a varietyof panelsmay be produced from a single pattern, the same Varying in depth ofrelief, while being strictly proportional and exact in plan and contour.Antifriction means are interposed between the tracer and each part ofbar 119, between the bars and the frame 4, and between the upper ends ofthe spindles 7G and the wedges 121 of the bars 119. The weight of thespindles upon theinclines or wedges 121 will cause the automatic returnof the bars when free from the tracer; but we prefer to exert the forceof a spring upon the end of each bar 119, as indicated in Fig. 23.

The cutters for ordinary work are side outting-tools or bits; but fixedplaner-points may be substituted therefor, the spindles being adaptedfor vertical movement only; but in place ofsuch a tool we may substitutemillingcutters in the lower ends of vertical moving spindles ortool-bars 74, driving the cutters by any suitable means and preferablyreversing them at the end of each stroke of the bed. These cutters areadapted for working iron and other metals and may be replaced bygrinding-wheels for the cutting of harder materials, such as glass. Forcutting stone reciprocatory hammers or chisels may be substituted in thelower ends of the spindles or tool-bars 74. Our machine, made in varioussizes and proportions, is adapted for all classes of carving andengraving work, ranging from minute articles, such as watchcases and thelike, to large figures and designs in wood, metal, and stone.

The term relief-pattern herein and hereinafter employed is intended toinclude reverse or obverse and intaglio patterns and any pattern havingsurface prominences.

It is obvious that numerous other modifi-' cations of our invention willreadily suggest themselves to one skilled in the art, and we thereforedo not confine our invention to the particular construction hereinclaimed and described.

Having described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent 1. In a carving-machine, a cutter in combination with atracer wherewith said cutter is movable, a pattern and work holding andfeeding mechanism, the relief-pattern held thereby and engaging saidtracer and limiting the movement thereof in one direction, and a drivendevice exerting retractileforce upon said tracer at all times, saidforce increasing in proportion to the lateral pressure of the pattern onthe tracer, substantially as described.

2.- In a carving-machine, a cutter in combination. with a tracerwherewith said cutter is movable longitudinally, a pattern and workholding and feeding mechanism, the reliefpattern held 'by saidmechanism, engaging said tracer, limiting the movement thereofin onedirection, and exerting pressure upon said tracer laterally to itsdirection of movement, and a driven device at all times exertingretractile force upon said tracer, the force'of said driven device uponsaid tracer increasing in proportion to the lateral pressure of thepattern upon the tracer whereby said tracer is retracted upon lateralengagement with said pattern, substantially as described.

3. In a carving-machine, the connected cutter and tracer; and, thepattern and work holding mechanism, movable relatively to one another inintersecting planes, in combination with the relief-pattern engaged bysaid tracer, limiting the movement thereof in one direction, andexerting varying pressure upon the tracer during the relative movementof the pattern and tracer; and a retracting device operating upon saidtracer at all times with a force that increases in proportion to thepressure of the pattern upon the tracer and said device coacting withthe pattern to retract the tracer and cutter, substantially asdescribed.

a. In a carving-machine, a tracer longitudinally movable, and positivelyheld against other movement, a cutter moved and controlled by saidtracer, a pattern and work holding mechanism movable laterally withrelation to said tracer, the relief-pattern held by said mechanism,slidably engaged by said tracer continuouslyand exerting lateralpressure upon said tracer during the movement of said mechanism, and adriven device continuously cooperatingwith said pattern to retract saidtracer and cutter, substantially as described.

5. In a carving-machine, a tracer movable longitudinally and heldagainst lateral movement, in combination with a cutter movable with saidtracer, a laterally-movable pattern and Work holding and feedingmechanism, the relief-pattern held thereby, engaging and exertinglateral pressure on said tracer, and a device exerting retractileforceupon said tracer at all times, the force exerted by said device upon thetracer being increased by the lateral pressure of the pattern on saidtracer, substantially as described. 1

6. In a carving-machine, the relatively mov-- able cutter and thework-holding mechanism, in combination with the relatively movabletracer and relief-pattern, said tracer being connectedWit-h andcontrolling said cutter, said pattern being engaged by said tracer,limiting the movement thereof in one direction, and exerting pressurethereon during the relative movement of the tracer and pat tern, and aretracting device operating upon said tracer at all times and with forceincreasing in proportion to the pressure of the pattern thereon,substantially as described.

7. In a carving-machine, the cutter and the work-holding mechanismrelatively moved while in engagement, in combination with a tracer and arelief-pattern relatively moved while in engagement, said tracer andsaid on tter being connected together for movement corresponding to thesinuosity of the pattern, said pattern exerting varying lateral pressureupon the tracer during said relative movement, and a driven retractingdevice asso ciated with said tracer exerting retractile force thereon atall times and retracting said tracer simultaneously with the exertion oflateral pressure upon the tracer by saidpattern, substantially asdescribed. c

8. In a carving-machine, the pattern and work holding and feedingmechanism, in combination with a longitudinally-movable tracer andconnected cutter, with relation to which said mechanism is laterallymovable, a pattern carried by said mechanism in slidable engagement withsaid tracer and exerting a varying lateral pressure thereon, and aretracting device engaged with said tracer, said device and associatedparts constantly holding said tracer against lateral movement by saidpattern and said retracting device operating automatically to retractsaid tracer with a force and speed increasing in proportion to theincrease of lateral pressure of said pattern upon said tracer,substantially as described.

9. In an automatic carving-machine, the pattern and work holding andfeeding mechanism, in combination with a longitudinallymovable tracerand a cutter connected therewith, with relation to which tracer andcutter said mechanism is laterally movable, a continuously-rotatedretracting device constantly engaged with said tracer, and partsassociated with said device holding said tracer againstlateralmovement,substantially as de scribed.

10. In a carving-1nachinea longitudinallymovable tracer, in combinationwith a mechanism carrying a relief-pattern and the work and movedlaterally with relation to the direction of movement of said tracer,said patfrictional engagement with said tracer and functionallyresponsive to the pressure of the pattern upon the tracer, substantiallyas described.

11. In an automatic carving-machine the pattern and work holding andfeeding mechanism and the relief-pattern thereon, in combination with arigid tracer rigidlyheld for movement only toward and from said pattern,a cutter moved with said tracer, and a driven retracting device inconstant frictional engagement with said tracer and functionallyresponsive to lateralpressure, and said tracer communicating the lateralpressure of the pattern upon the tracer to said device, substantially asdescribed.

12. In an automatic carving-machine the .pattern and work holding andfeeding mechrality of cutters, in combination with a single tracerconnected with all thereof, the pattern and work holding and feedingmechanism, the relief-pattern held thereby and engaged with said tracerand exerting varying pressures thereon, and a driven retracting deviceat all times exerting retractile force upon said tracer and opposedthereby and functionally responsive to the pressure of the pattern uponsaid tracer, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

14. In an automatic carving-machine the pattern and work holding andfeeding mechanism, and the relief-pattern held thereby, in combinationwith a reciprocable tracer, one or more cutters connected therewith, anda rotating friction device constantly engaged with said tracer andcommunicating thereto movements that vary in length and correspond tothe varying relief of the pattern, substantially as described.

15. Inacarving-machinetheconnectedcutter and tracer and the relativelymovable work and pattern holding mechanism, in combination with a drivenretracting device ex-' erting retractile force upon said tracer at alltimes and causing the same to retire when subjected to pressure,substantially as described.

16. In a carving-machine the connected cutter and tracer and therelatively movable work and pattern holding mechanism in combinationwith a driven retracting device at all times in frictional engagementwith said tracer and exerting retractile force thereon causing itsretraction when subjected to pressure, substantially as described.

17. In an automatic carving-machine the pattern and work holding andfeeding means in combination with the cutter and a retract-.

ing mechanism comprising a relief-pattern tracer-bar and-means'at alltimes exerting a retracting force upon the tracer-bar and increasinglyeffective to retract the tracer in proportion to the lateral forcewherewith the tracer-bar is applied to said means,and means partiallycounterbalancing said tracer and cutter, substantially as described.

I8. In an automatic carving-machine the pattern and work holding andfeeding mechanism, in combination with a cutter movable toward and fromsaid mechanism, a relief-pattern tracer connected to said cutter,and acontinuously-moving means in engagement with the tracer constantlytending to retract the same, and made functionally operative, to movethe tracer, by side pressure upon the tracer, substantially asdescribed.

19. In an automatic carving-machine, the pattern and work holding andfeeding mechanism, in combination with a cutter and a relief-patterntracer suitably connected and normally in engagement with the work andpattern respectively, and a driven retracting device functionallydependent upon pressure, constantly tending to retract said tracer andcutter but insufficient to retract the same 1111 til pressure is appliedto increase the retractile tendency of said device, substantially asdescribed.

20. In an automatic carving-machine, the pattern and work holding andfeeding mechanism, in combination with the cutter movable toward andfrom said mechanism, the tracer movable with said cutter,driven meansconstantly tending to retract said tracer and cutter and operating toretract the same simultaneously with the lateral engagement of thepattern with the tracer, substantially as described.

2 l. The pattern-tracing and cutter-retracting mechanism forcarving-machines comprising a longitud inally-movable cutter-operatingtracer-bar, in combination with driven means constantly exerting aretractile force upon said tracer-bar and retracting the tracerbar whensubjected to lateral pressure or thrust, substantially as described.

22. In a carving-machine the mechanism for holding and feeding thepattern and work, in combination with a relief-pattern tracer and acutter movable toward and from said mechanism, said mechanism beinglaterally movable with relation to said tracer and cutter, acontinuously-driven retracting device constantly engaged with saidtracer, and said device with associated parts holding said traceragainst movement laterally with said mechanism and exerting a retractileforce upon said tracer at all times, said force increasing when thetracer is pressed upon said device by laterally-directed force,substantially as described.

23. In an automatic carving-machine the pattern and work holding tableand means for moving the same in ahorizontal plane,in combination with avertical tracer-bar and a vertically-movable cutter, said bar and cutterbeing connected and normally depressed by gravity, means partlycounterbalancing the weight of the connected tracer-barand cutter, and aretracting device driven in constant engagement with said tracer-bar andtending to retract the same, and made functionally operative to lift thetracer-bar and cutter by the pressing of the tracer-bar thereon,substantially as described.

24. The retracting mechanism for carvingmachines comprising alongitudinally-movable tracer-bar, fixed guides for said bar, and acontinuously-driven retracting device associated with said guides forpreventing lateral movement of said bar, said device operating

